Insular Life resumes operations in Tacloban, Ormoc

MANILA, Philippines - Insular Life has resumed operations in Tacloban and Ormoc after being shut down by Super Typhoon Yolanda, which devastated parts of the Visayas when it hit the region on Nov. 8.

The company’s Tacloban City office opened its doors to policyholders and their beneficiaries on Nov. 26 amid piles of debris, intermittent communications connection, and crippled basic facilities.

“We would have wanted to open earlier because our building sustained only minor damage. However, the city was virtually a war zone -- residential houses were blown away, roads unpassable due to debris and fallen electric posts, no electricity, water, transportation, communication and government services,” said Insular Life chairman and CEO Vicente R. Ayllon.

Company employees and agents in Tacloban also suffered some personal losses, and needed to be given time and assistance to attend to their concerns, he said in a statement. “A team from our head office and Cebu was deployed to provide the much-needed services to our policyholders,” he added.

Its office in Ormoc resumed operations last Monday (Dec 2).

In Tacloban, Insular has been able to service death claims, policy loans and dividend withdrawals, and even accepted premium and policy loan payments. But due to the absence of stable communications, electricity, water and other vital facilities, its workers are only able to provide limited services and operate on shortened business hours.

Company officials, said however, this is temporary and they will try to be fully operational as soon as it is feasible.Policyholders are advised to visit the Insular Life Office, 2/F, Insular Life Bldg, Avenida Veteranos, Tacloban City from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

In Ormoc, policy-holders are advised to visit the 2/F, Ormoc Centrum Building in Aviles Street.

Insular Life policyholders may also go to any of the company offices nationwide including offices in Cebu, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, Kalibo and Roxas cities for policy servicing needs. They may also call toll-free number 1-800-10-4678527.